According to a deposition filed by Polly Conklin and George Conklin (sister and brother of Martha Conklin) on August 20, 1866 in support of a pension application for surviving daughter Esther Phoebe Cole, the wedding of William F. Cole and Martha Conklin took place on the 23rd day of February 1859 at the township of Rose, Oakland County Michigan by James Patterson of Holly, Oakland County Michigan - a justice of the peace. They received no certificate of marriage.

According to a deposition filed on Feb. 21, 1866 by Eli H. House and Miranda House his wife (in support of pension application for minor child Esther P. Cole, daughter of William F. Cole) , they stated that they were present at the house of Eli Conklin in the town of Rose, Oakland County and witnessed the wedding ceremony between William F. Cole and Martha Conklin by James Patterson and that no marriage certificates were given and no public record made of the event.

While researching at the National Archives in Washington, DC for the Civil War military record of father William F. Cole, a Pension record for William Cole was discovered where the pension was filed for a minor dependent (Esther P. Cole) by her guardian. The original pension file was viewed and contained a large number of documents that provided names, dates and places surrounding the life of William F. Cole, his wife Martha Conklin Cole, and daughter Esther.

Esther's mother died on July 28, 1862 prior to her father William enlisting as a Private in Company B, 26th Regiment, Michigan Infantry. Initially guardianship was awarded to Jonas M. Avery (NOTE: Pension record is filed by "J M Avery."). In a "Letter of Guardianship" document from the Probate Court of Ingham County, signed by Judge Horatio Pratt at Mason, Michigan on September 30, 1865 - guardianship is granted to Jonas M. Avery. Later guardianship papers were filed transferring guardianship of Esther to Albert Avery. This was noted in a "Letter of Guardianshp" from the Probate Courty of Ingham County, Michigan where Horatio Pratt, Judge of the Court of Probate, granted guardianship to Albert Avery on May 17, 1869.

In a deposition before a Justice of the Peace in Oakland County, Michigan and dated September 26, 1865, Lucy Rathbone of Milford in Oakland County attested to facts surrounding the birth of Esther and the marriage of William F. Cole and Martha Conklin. Lucy also states that the death of Martha Conklin Cole took place at Rose in Oakland County.

There is a document in the file - "Delcaration of Minor Children For Pension" dated November 7, 1865 in Ingham County, Michigan when Jonas M. Avery appeared before the Clerk of the Circuit Court to make a declaration as to the facts surrounding the application for the pension on behalf of Esther P. Cole. Jonas Avery is listed as guardian of Esther. The declaration also adds that William Cole died of starvation & exposure. He also states that Esther was born on the 27th day of March 1860. Also appearing with Jonas Avery to make the declaration were Lavina Arnold (William's sister) and Marcia Avery, residents of Locke, Ingham County, Michigan who were acquainted with Martha Cole, the late wife, and knew her for a period of 2 years prior to her death.

There is a document in the file from the Adjutant General's Office, Washington D.C. dated May 14, 1866 in which it acknowledges receipt for application for Pension No. 122882 in which it returns the application with as much information as it found in the files of their respective office. It appears that William F. Cole was enrolled on the 5 day of December, 1862 in Hanover in Co. B 26th Regiment of Michigan Volunteers, to serve 3 years and mustered into service as a Private on the 12th day of December, 1862 at Jackson. He was on the muster rolls for the months of February and April 1865 reported as "captured at Reams Station, August 25, 1864." The letter states "No evidence of death on file." (NOTE: Obviously this was later updated to include details of death in Salisbury Confederate Prison as the pension was ultimately awarded to Esther P. Cole.) In fact, the pension file contains a "Memorandum from Prisoner of War Records" that states that Cole, William F., Private, 26th Regiment, Michigan Infantry, Co. B. was captured at Reams Sta. Virginia August 25, 1864 and confined at Richmond, Virginia August 27, 1864. Admitted to Treatment (the word "hospital" was crossed out) at Bell Isle Richmond, Virginia Sept. 7, 1864 for (word unreadable) fever. Sent to Salisbury North Carolina October 9, 1864 he died at Salisbury NC Feb. 28th, 1865 of starvation while a prisoner of war.

The Claim for a Minor's Pension was awarded on October 6, 1866. The amount of $8 per month, commencing Feb. 28th 1865 and ending March 26, 1876 was payable to Jonas M. Avery, guardian.

There is a document in the file "Increase of Minor's Pension" for Esther P. Cole dated Dec. 17, 1873. It lists Albert Avery as the present guardian and Jonas M. Avery as Former Guardian. It notes that the rate of pension is $8 per month commencing February 28, 1865 (death date of William F. Cole) and through March 26, 1876 (when Esther would turn 16). This form also indicates that Esther P. Cole was born March 27, 1860.

Also in the file are what appear to be payment booklets for the pension with only the covers remaining. On one were the following details:

Minor of William F. Cole, Rank Private, Co. B. Regt. 26 Mich Vols.
Rate per month $8
Commencing 28 Feb 1865
Ending 26 March 1876
Additional sum of $2 per month for each of the above-mentioned children, until arriving at the age of 16 years

The father of the subject of this sketch, William F. Cole, died a U.S. soldier in a Confederate prison, February 2, 1865. Her mother's maiden name Martha Conklin, who died in 1862.

Esther Pheba Cole was born in Livingston county March 27, 1860 and at the age of two her mother died, she was but five at her father's death; for four years she had no certain home. From the age of nine until sixteen she found a christian home with Albert and Rebecca Avery of Locke, who were her legal guardian. She was married to Daniel Pamment of Leroy July 16, 1876, and to them were born five children. Walter, Mabel, Martha, William and Flossie. Mabel died at the age of 14 and Martha at the age of 22 years. Nine grandchildren survive. Her husband, Daniel Pamment, with Walter, William and Flossie live to honor her name and let us hope to emulate her Christian character.

On account of Mr. Pamment's uncertain health in late years the family cares fell largely upon her shoulders; to this were added the partial burden and responsibilities for five grandchildren upon the recent death of their mother.

It has been well said that there are two classes of people in the world. Big headed people and big hearted people. Mother Pamment surely belonged to the big hearted class, but at length her tired but willing hands could do no more, and her loving heart refused to beat. This occurred Thursday morning, August 23.

Incidentally her name was enrolled among the Baptist's as her patriotic father died in his country's service, so she died in her Master's service for "In as much as ye have done it unto one of the least of these (little ones) ye have done it unto me."